CHARACTERISTICS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUES 



1. Connective Tissue Proper 

 The connective tissues proper may be divided into 



(a) fibrous types and 



(b) fatty or adipose tissue. 



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a. Fibrous Types 



1) Reticular Tissue. This type of connective tissue possesses stellate cells, 

 between which are found delicate aggregations of fibrils and a fluid-like, inter- 

 cellular substance (fig. 312B). 



2) White Fibrous Tissue. White fibrous tissue contains bundles or sheets 

 of white, connective-tissue fibers (i.e., collagenous fibers), placed between 

 the cells. Some elastic fibers may be present (fig. 312C, D). Collagenous 

 fibers yield gelatin upon boiling with water and are not digested readily by 

 trypsin (Maximow and Bloom, '42). 



3) Elastic Tissue. Elastic connective tissue is similar to the white fibrous 

 variety but contains a large percentage of elastic tissue fibers which extend 

 under stress but contract again when tension is released (fig. 312E). Elastic 

 fibers are resistant to boiling water and are digested readily by trypsin 

 (Maximow and Bloom, '42). Elastic tissue may have a yellowish tinge when 

 viewed macroscopically. 



COLLAGENOUS FIBER BUNDLES 



ON CELT 



ELASTIC FIBERS 



FAT CELLS 



ELASTIC TISSUE 



DEVELOPING ADIPOSE TISSUE 



Fig. 312. Types of soft connective tissues. (A, D, and E redrawn from Bremer, 1936, 

 Textbook of Histology, Philadelphia, Blakiston; B and C redrawn from Keibel and Mall, 

 1910, Manual of Human Embryology, vol. 1, Philadelphia. Lippincott; F redrawn from 

 Bell, '09.) 



